External data defined by a COBOL program persists until the enclave terminates. The external data, then, defined in a COBOL subtask, persists even if the subtask terminates; therefore, the same external data can be used by COBOL program in more than one task.

The following example illustrates how you might use external data in a multitasking ILC application:

1. COBOL PGMA is called in subtask 1. COBOL PGMA defines external PIC X data item as EXT1. PGMA sets EXT1 to 'Z'.
2. Subtask 1 terminates.
3. COBOL PGMB is called in subtask 2. PGMB has the same external data item EXT1. The value of EXT1 is 'Z', or the value that was set by PGMA in subtask 1.